Archive for February, 2007

What Is Obesity?

Nearly everyone today worries about being overweight. We’re constantly inundated with messages from TV and the Internet about widespread obesity and the risks of being obese. Whether it’s health issues or social acceptance, no one wants to be fat. Read the rest of this entry »

Spot Reducing, Myth or Miracle?

There are no miracles in weight loss, though there are lots of myths. You may have heard a new one making the rounds: cortisol will ‘dissolve’ fat around the waist. Not so. Read the rest of this entry »

The Horologer’s Craft

The practice of measuring time goes back thousands of years. The most obvious example is noting the change of the seasons and the repetition of day followed by night, over and over.

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Selecting The Right Weight Loss Program

For some people a formal weight loss program isn’t necessary. They can summon the willpower, do the research and carry out the needed actions independently. Others will benefit from support, guidance and a helping hand. Read the rest of this entry »

Who Should Organize and Host a Baby Shower?

A baby shower is a special time for the mother-to-be. It’s a day that has been set aside for her to spend quality time with family and close friends before her life gets monopolized by her approaching bundle of joy.

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What is Basal Metabolic Rate?

Most diet and exercise programs focus on what kinds of food to eat, which exercises are best for weight loss and toning, etc. That’s sensible, since both diet and exercise are the twin partners that have to be adjusted to maintain a preferred weight range and a healthy body. Read the rest of this entry »

Women and Weight Loss

Women, to put it bluntly, are biologically different from men. Those differences imply some guidelines for diet, exercise and health matters in general. Read the rest of this entry »

Weight Loss After Pregnancy

It’s an obvious truth that after giving birth most women’s bodies make considerable adjustments. Broad hormonal changes are common and mood swings are not unusual Read the rest of this entry »

Weight Loss for Men

Women are the major consumers for weight loss programs and diets. Men tend to focus more on exercise. But either topic is, and should be, popular with both sexes. Read the rest of this entry »

Child Obesity

There’s considerable hype in the news about the incidence of childhood obesity and the risks. As usual, scare stories abound with calls for government intervention and/or large-scale social changes. Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing The Proper Diet

The title is something of a misnomer. There is no such thing as ‘the’ proper diet for every individual. Nevertheless, all humans are similar enough that there are broad categories, and many specifics, that are correct for almost anyone. Read the rest of this entry »

Exercise, The Diet Partner

Most people will try a hundred different fad diets, at least as many nutritional supplements and even all sorts of wacky alternatives. But, getting them to exercise can be a real challenge. Read the rest of this entry »

Is Weight Loss Surgery For You?

Diet and exercise are the preferred twin partner methods for losing weight and excess body fat. A proper diet and age-appropriate, regular exercise will help almost anyone stay fit and in the correct weight range. Read the rest of this entry »

Junk Science

Apart from discussions of the environment, there is nowhere that junk science is more common than in issues surrounding weight loss – nutrition and diet, exercise and health topics in general. Every month there’s a new claim, often given a coating of respectability by quoting the latest ’study’. Read the rest of this entry »

Put Fiber In Your Diet

Despite the hype that too often accompanies the praise, fiber is a very healthy addition to a good diet. It’s no miracle cure, but a substantial amount of insoluble fiber does help move material through the colon faster. It has a cleansing effect on the digestive system. Read the rest of this entry »

Nutritional Supplements

A supplement, by definition, is something that accompanies something essential. But, in some cases, nutritional supplements can themselves be an essential part of a healthy nutrition regimen. Read the rest of this entry »

The Snowball Method of Debt Reduction

There are multiple ways to reduce your total (and monthly) debt load, some less painful than others.

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Online High Schools

Distance learning and online high schools are viable options for students who have trouble coping in a traditional school environment. Read the rest of this entry »

Booking Considerations: Part II

When considering when to book, which can be a tricky choice, there are a few specifics that can guide your planning.

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A Guide to Recreational Vehicles (RVs)

Recreational vehicles (RVs) come in a range of sizes. Some are no larger than the camper shells of the 1950s, others are the size of a large bus.

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Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

When people try to give up smoking they will experience both psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms. 

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Communication

Few subjects in parenting are as fundamental, or as important, as communication. Humans function so much by language, whether implicit or explicit, that learning how to communicate effectively affects virtually every other sphere of family relations. Read the rest of this entry »

Using Flash

Automatic flash is a great tool for solving common lighting problems, but unless used with care it can create some problems of its own.

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Batteries for Digital Cameras

Digital cameras are electronic devices so they need a power source of some kind. The most convenient way to power your camera is with batteries. Although some models can be connected directly to an AC outlet, this is impractical for anything but studio use.

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Contemporary Watches

Very few people really need a watch today – yet they continue to sell like iPods. Cell phones, computers, TV set boxes and just about anyplace in public will have something to tell you the current time.

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Distance Learning and Employment

Are online degrees viewed differently than traditional school degrees? Read the rest of this entry »

Booking Considerations: Part III

Trips to Bermuda are popular for a number of reasons. It’s a great island to visit and the trip from Florida is short, making for a great two or three day cruise.

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How to Choose the Right Method to Quit Smoking

Once you have made the decision to quit smoking, you should choose a method to help you overcome the habit.  Each method has advantages and disadvantages, so it’s a good idea to examine all of them before deciding.

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Active Listening

A major part of good communication between parent and child is active listening. But, what is ACTIVE listening? Read the rest of this entry »

Camera Tripods

Tripods are a necessity for anyone who wants to take the best pictures possible. They are useful for many different situations by helping to minimize camera movement which can cause an image to blur.

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Analog Watches

For centuries there were no ‘analog’ timepieces, only clocks and (later) watches. The word was born when digital (usually electronic) watches came into being.

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What To Consider Before Filing Bankruptcy

Some people think of bankruptcy as an easy way to offload a crushing debt burden, and it’s sometimes the first method they reach for.

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Types of Instructional Media

The earliest form of distance learning emerged over 120 years ago, in 1883. At that time the Internet did not exist. For the first 60+ years, correspondence was the only type of instructional media available. Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing A Tent For Camping

Unlike previous generations, camping no longer always involves sleeping in a tent. RVs, commercial campgrounds and other options provide an alternative.

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How to Cope with Lapses

During the quitting process the urge to smoke will be very strong.  At some point, many people succumb to those urges.  In fact, most people will have lapses or relapses on the road to smoke-free lives. 

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Health Insurance Benefits

One thing that’s important to understand when researching health insurance benefits is that each policy includes its own set. It’s easy to make the mistake of assuming that features or health coverage exists when they don’t.

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Individual vs. Family Health Insurance Plans

With the ever-growing cost of healthcare in the USA, finding the right health insurance plan that fits into your budget isn’t always easy.

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Health Insurance and Life Insurance

Health insurance protects the insured against incurring extensive medical expenses by offering full or partial coverage for certain medical treatments and procedures. Life insurance, on the other hand, is an insurance policy that pays out the face value of the policy, in a lump-sum payment, to the person designated as the beneficiary, upon the death of the insured.

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When Parents Disagree

Sometimes it’s surprising that the divorce rate isn’t actually higher than it is (about 46% in the U.S.). Assuming it isn’t just inertia on the part of the 54%, it’s a tribute to the willingness of so many couples to work out their differences. Read the rest of this entry »

Color Balancing

The human eye can easily adapt to different light conditions so that objects maintain their ‘true’ color. If we look at a blue ball, for example, we see the same shade of blue indoors and outdoors and under cloudy or sunny conditions.

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Lighting

A photograph is essentially a record of the light conditions at a certain point in time and space. We recognize the patterns of colours and shapes in a photograph because they resemble what we see in daily life.

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Digital Watches

The dividing line may not be laser sharp, but there are traditionalists who prefer an analog watch and moderns who go for digital.

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Baby Shower Planning Timeline

A baby shower is a time for celebration. To make sure the baby shower you host is one that guests talk about for a long time, in a positive way, do yourself a favor and follow this baby shower planning timeline.

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Timeline for Planning a Baby Shower After Baby’s Delivery

Many baby showers are given before the baby is born, but there are many situations in which having a baby shower afterwards is more appropriate.

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Baby Showers the Second, Third, or Fourth Time Around

One of the biggest dilemmas having to do with baby showers is whether it’s appropriate to arrange one for someone who already has been given a baby shower for her firstborn child.

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